September 17, 2013

Azerbaijan to raise level of meat consumption

An average of 100 grams of protein a day is the usual consumption per person in the majority of developed countries while in Azerbaijan that indicator is only 75 grams.

This is according to Chingiz Farajev, head of the Department on production, development of cattle, breeding and pasturelands at the Ministry of Agriculture in Azerbaijan, who also encourages raising the level of meat production in the country.

Protein products are widely consumed in developed countries of the world and the consumption level of protein products, particularly of the meat, is considered to be one of the indicators of quality of life. 

According to Farajev, 117,000 tonnes of beef, 80,000 tonnes of lamb, 4,000 tonnes of pork, more than 87,000 tonnes of poultry were produced in Azerbaijan last year. Based on the norms of World Health Organisation a person must consume an average of 73 kilogrammes of meat annually, Farajev added.

"But according to the minimum consumption basket in Azerbaijan, 20.5 kilogrammes of meat is consumed per person. This is why we should take measures for raising the meat consumption indicator," says Farajev.

High level protein products include beef, lamb, pork, fish, caviar, poultry, eggs, cheese and cottage cheese. Residents of less developed or poor countries suffer from the lack of protein in food.

According to the data claimed by Chingiz Farajev, meat consumption in Azerbaijan equals to 288,000 tonnes or 30.8 kilogrammes per capita (based on the official population number).